Controlling mechanism for agricultural implements



Nov; 21, 1944.

T. BROWN CQNTRQLLING MECHANISM FOR AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS Filed Nov.29, 1940 INVENTOR: Theophilus Brown MW/g ATTO Patented Not. 21, 1944UNITED PATENT" omen V v f 2,363,292

C T OLLING 130R AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS TheophilusBrown; Molina, m,assiinojr to Deere & Company, Molin'e, 111., a corporation or Illinols iApplication November 29, 1940, Serial No. 367,709

(or. 91=50i a i 18 Claims.-

The present inventionrelates generally to agricultural machines and moreparticularly to tractor propelled or supported implements in which meansderiving power from the tractor effects adjustment'of the implement.

The object andggeneral nature of'the present ,invention resides in theprovision of apair of hydraulic units independently operable andoperatively connected with said tool means for effecting two adjustmentsthereof. wFor example,

one adjustment may be an adjustment forv depth, in which operating .oneof the hydraulic units in one-direction or the other adjusts'theoperating depth of the tool means. The other adjustment may be 9.raising and lowering operation, in which the other hydraulic unitina'ybeiconnected to raise the tool means into inoperative or transportposition. Itis also a feature of thisinvention'to provide a pair ofseparately controlled hydraulic units "for effecting the desiredcont'rolof any agri cultural implement associated with the tractor.

It is also a feature ofthisinvention to provide 1 a pair of hydraulicunits which are disposed; at

least partially, within the transmission housing of the tractor andoperatively' connected within the transmission housing to part .orpart'sto be actuated thereby". It is also a feature of this nivention toprovide a pair of hydraulic units which are mounted on and operativelyconnected with means carried by the transmission housing so thatinterference with an operator at the opera tors station on the tractoris eliminated.

More specifically, it is a feature of this invention to provide anagricultural machine o'fthe integral or tractonmoun'ted type in whichthe toolmeans may be adjusted in depth by onehydra ulic unit andraised,or lowered, by a separate hydraulic unit. It is also a feature of thisinvention to provide an improved hydraulic liftingand/orcon trollingmeans which derives power from a fluid pump operatively connected to bedriven from the governor driving; means of the tractor. It is also afeature of this inventionto provide apair of hydraulic units for a farmtractor, which unitsare disposed on or-in-the transmissionhousing'onopposite sides of operating partsof the transmissionhousing, thusplacing the" parts out of? the way of the operator.

These and other objects and advantages of the present: invention will beapparent tothos'e skilled in the art after a consideration of'th'e' following detaileddescription of the preferredembodlment, taken inconjunction with the" accom panying drawing.

. Inthe drawing:

- Figure 1 is'a-perspective' view of an agr'icul .tural machine of theintegral or tractor mounted type in which the principles of the presentinvention-have been incorporated; v w

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the machine shown in Figured; I,

"igure' 3 is aside view of a portion of'the out"- fit shown iii Figure1, showing particularly the hyqrauiic units: and v v u V Figure 4 is asectional view taken generally along the line 4 4 of Figure 3.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 1, the tractor which serves asan implement or supporting frame is indicated in its entirety by thereference numeral I and includes a frame 2 which supports the tractormotor 3, a rear axle structure 4 the latter including aic'l' shafts 5'and- 6 upon which the rear traction wheels 'I of the tractoraremounted.In' Figure l, the near rear wheel has been removed in order to show theother parts tobetter' advantage; Forming apartof the frame 2 andconnecting the latter with the rear axle H is a transmission housingindicated inits entirety'hy the reference numeral ill. The transmissionhousing I0 is generally ofrectangunrconfigu mtmn, embodyin s de walls uand n. The transm'ission'housing to also ncludes a closed' by a coverplate i5. The later includes inc m tor 3 through conventional gearing,in eluding" a speed change mechanism 22L The nussionhousing I0 suitablebearingsupports for a pair' of axially aligned rockshafts l6 and-IT(Figure 2) to which referene will be: made later,

rh rear'axl sha-r ts 5 and 6 are driven, through conventionaldifferential mechanism (not'shown) from a ring gea'r 20 and the latteris driven by gearing just mentioned includes a gear 23 which, througha-g'e'ar 2 4", drives a governor 25 disposed ina housing 2i; formedj onor earns-spy the tra ns The t'opwall H; ofthemes-- mission housing Incarries a g'earfsh-iftle er 281 which controls-the selection of ratiosinthe speed" change transmission 22, r as j in conventional practice;Normally, the gear shif-tleverZS i's 'dis p'os'ed approximatelycentrally between the sides of the transmissionhousing. Other operatingparts-of thet'ractor' lmay alsobe carriejd by the transmission housingHi". The gear shift lever 28' is" therefore representative of anyoperating part or parts" tractor. V I v The modern farm tractor; ofwhichthe tractor I is-representative.is'adapted to receive and support manydifferent kinds of farm implements for various tillage, seeding,cultivating, and/or f harvestingoperations; Most; if notall; of thesecarried on this portion of the tools are capable of being and duringoperation are required to be adjusted from time to time, and as'mentioned above, it is one of the principal features of this inventionto provide means deriving power from the tractor motor for adjusting theimplement conveniently and easily by the use of hydraulic units mountedon the tractor. In order to represent these various implements I have,for purposes of illustration, chosen a plow of the integral type, thatis, a plow which is connected in draft transmitting relation with andsupported on the tractor or controlled by the tractor at all times.Conventionally, such a plow has twoadjustments, one to control the depthof plowing and the other to raise and lower the plow into and out ofinoperative or transport position. Hence, for purposes of illustration;I have shown my new and improved hydraulic mechanism as particularlyarranged to effect the two adjustments of depth control and liftingcontrol.

, Referring now more particularly to Figure 1, the integral implementchosen to illustrate the principles of the present invention embodies aplow 30. including a plow beam 3| connected by hitch means 32 to theforward portion of the tractor and carrying at its rear end a plowbottom 33. According to the principles of the present invention thedepth of operation of the plow bottom 33 is controlled by a gauge wheel35 journaled for rotation on the rear end of a swinging link 36, thelaterally directed forward end 31 of which is mounted for generalvertical rocking movement and generally lateral shifting movement in apair of vertical standards 38 and 39 which areconnected in any suitablemanner to a pair of brackets 4| and 42 secured by any suitable means tothe rear axle of the tractor, preferably to the under side of theenlarged central portion of the rear axle housing 4. By virtue of thisconstruction the gauge wheel 35 is attached to the tractor yet canfollow variations of the ground surface independent of the tractor.Also, when the plow beam swings laterally, a smallpamount of which ispermitted by the draft connections 32, the gauge wheel 35 follows theplow beam since the end 31 can shift laterally in the standards 38 and39.

The position of the gauge wheel 35 relative to the plow beam 3| iscontrolled by connections therebetween,which include a pair of togglelinks or arms 45 and 48. The link or arm 45 is pivoted to the beam 3| bya bolt or other means 41, and the lower link or arm 46 is pivoted to theswinging link or crank axle 35 by means link 80 to the pivot pin 5| thatconnects the toggle arms 45 and 48. It will be observed that the lowerend 51a of the arm 51 is disposed closely adjacent the axis of theswinging crank axle section 31 so that the plow beam 3| may swingvertically with relatively free movement but such movement will notmaterially change the position of the gauge wheel 35 relative to theplow bottom 33, and hence the depth of plowing will not be affected eventhough the plow is thus connected with the tractor for relatively freefloating movement. The end of the transverse shaft 58 opposite the arm51 carries an arm 65 to the outer end of which the lower end of a link68 is pivoted. The upper end of the link 68 is pivoted to an arm 51whichis fixed to the laterally outer end of the left hand transverserock shaft l6, as best shown in Figure 2. Thus,

rocking movement of the left hand rock shaft of a bolt or other means49, preferably arranged on the axis of rotation of the gauge wheel 35.The two-arms or links 45 and 46 are pivotally interconnected by means ofa pin or other means 5|. When the toggle arms or links 45 and 48 aremoved into collapsed position the gauge wheel is nearest the plow beam3|, and hence the plow bottom 33 is arranged for deep plowing.

When the toggle arms or links and 45 are extended the gauge wheel 35 isfarthest from the plow beam 3| and hence the plow bottom 33 is arrangedfor shallow plowing.

The connections for swinging the arms or links 45 and 48 so as to shiftthe gauge wheel 35 .relative to the plow beam 3| to control the depth ofplowing include an arm 51 fixed to the right end of a transverse shaft58 which is supported at its opposite ends in the upper ends of thevertical standards 38 and 33. The lower end of the arm 51 is connectedby means of a l8 serves to control the operating depth of the plowbottom 33.

The right hand rock shaft |1 carries an arm 1| which preferably isprovided or formed with a pair of yoke sections 12 and 13 which arespaced apart and receive a trunnion 11 therebetween. The latter isapertured and slidably disposed about the upper end of a link 19, theuppermost portion of which is threaded and receives a pair of lock nuts80. The lower end of the link 19 is formed or provided with a yoke 14which is connected by a pivot 15 to the plow beam 3|. In the normaloperating position, as shown in Figure 1, the trunnion member 11 isdisposed a substantial distance below the lock nuts 80, whichconstruction provides means in the form of a, lost motion connectionbetween the beam 3| and the power lift mechanism to accommodate theabove mentioned floating movement of the plow relative to the tractor.Thus, the gauge wheel 35 determines the operative position of the plowbottom 33 independently of the position of the tractor, but when therock shaft I1 is rocked to swing the arm 1| upwardly, as indicated bythe arrow in Figure l, the above mentioned lost motion is taken up andthe plow is lifted through the lifting link 19.

No claim is made in this application to the particular implement detailsjust described, since they are shown and claimed in my Patent No. Re.22,019, issued February 10, 1942.

According to the principles of the present invention, I provide twoseparately operable independent hydraulic units, both deriving energyfrom the tractor, for separately controlling the rock shafts l8 and I1,and in order to provide such hydraulic units on the tractor and todispose them so as not to interfere with the operator on the tractor,for which the tractor seat S and tractor platform P are provided, Iextend th hydraulic units into the interior of the transmission housingI8.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 2, 3 and 4, the two hydraulicunits are indicated by the reference numerals BI and 82, and eachconsists of a cylinder casting 84 which is bolted to a pump casting 85that extends transversely of the tractor and has a portion bolted to therear face of the governor housing 25. The latter is provided with anopening through which a gear 85 may extend, the gear 86 serving to meshwith the governor driving gear 24 and therebyderiving energy to drive apair of gear pumps, each of which is indicated in its entirety by thereference numeral 81, and mounted in the pump casting 85. The other pumpis disposed along- V cylinder casting 84.

,. outwardly and receives a handle or operating member I38 which isaccessible to the operator.

side and substantially identical with the pump 8'! shown in Figure 3,both being driven through gear 86 from the gear 24. The gear pumps 81areadapted to serve as asource of fluid pressure on the tractor and tothis end may be of any suitable or conventional construction. Each ofthe hydraulic units BI and 82 has its cylinder castin 84 formed with anextension 9| as a valve housing in which a passage 92 is formed thatcommunicates with a similar passage 93 formed in the pump casting 85,the passage 93 leading to the pressure side of the associated gear pump81. Another passage 95 is formed in each valve housing SI and leadsthrough suitable passages in the pump casting 85 to, the sump of theassociated gear pump 81.

A valve 98 is disposed in each of the valve housings SI and has threepositions, one in which fluid from the pump is returned to the sumpwithout entering the cylinder 99 which is formed formed thereon, and theupper wall I3 of the transmission housing I is apertured on oppositesides of the gear shift lever so as to permit each cylinder castingextendingdown into the interior of thetransmission housing I0, as bestshown in Figure 2. The two cylinders 84 are thus disposed on oppositesides of the ring gear 20, but this construction may vary, if desired.The piston rod III of the left hand hydraulic unit II is connected by alink III to an arm III! that is fixed to the inner end of the left handrock shaft I6 and extends into the rear portion of the transmission caseIII. Preferably, a quick detachable pivot'pin' II! is provided tofacilitateassembly, as will be referred to later. Theright handhydraulic unit 82 has its piston connected by a link I2I toan arm I22flxed to the inner end of the right hand rock shaft Il,

preferably by a "quick detachable pivot pin I23 similar to or identicalwith the pivot pin II3.

' The valve mechanism 98, mentioned above, is preferably like that shownin the patent to Harold Brown, issued October 10, 1933, No. 1,929,-

- 804, to which reference may be had if desired.

Since the details of such valve mechanism is fully disclosed in saidpatent; the same has'not been shown in detail since, so far as thepresent invention is concerned, any suitable valve mechanism may beutilized. Preferably, however, each valve includes a stem I30 extendingfrom the associated valve housing BI and is pivotally connected, as atI3I, to a link I32 that extends alongside the associated cylindercasting and is pivoted, as at I33, to the lower end of avalve operatinlever I35. The latter is fixed to a rock shaft I36 carried'in a. bossI31 formed in the upper or exposed part of the associated The rock shaftI36 extends Thus, by shifting thehandle I38 in one direction ortheother, the valve mechanism may be actuated to force the piston ofthat cylinder in one direction or the other, or to lock it in anyselected position, this being the operation dis- The two cylindercastings 8| and 82 have bolting flanges H4 are inserted in thetransmission case.

transmission cover I5 is provided with a. hand "the governor housing 26and the upper part of the transmission case; and in assembling theseparts the links Ill and I2I are connected to the piston rods associatedtherewith before the parts The rear hole I and cover therefor, indicatedby the reference numeral I5I. By taking off the cover I5I after mountingthe transmission cover IS in place, access may be had for the insertionof the pivot pins H9 and I23. Thus, after the cylinders and pump housingare mounted in place, the rear transmission housing I5 may be boltedinplace, and then lastly the connection between the rock shaft arms II8andI22 and the assoc'iated links H! and I2I may be effected. After thatis done the hand hole cover plate I52 may be secured in place, thusprotecting the working parts of the hydraulic units from dirt and gritwhile adequately lubricating them by the lubricam in the rear axlehousing.

In operation, one hydraulic unit is actuated to adjust the'depth ofoperation, by rocking the left hand rock shaft I6, and by returning theleft hand valve handle to its intermediate position whenever the desireddepth is reached, that depth may be retained by virtue of the hydrauliclock which is effected when the associated valve 98 is returned to itsneutral or intermediate position. Likewise, whenever it is desired toraise the plow to transport position, the right hand valve handle ismoved so as to direct fluid pressure from the pump 81 to one side of thepiston so as to rock the right hand rock shaft I! in a direction toraise the lifting arm 'II. If desired, the latter need not be rockedthrough its entire range, especially when merely turning at the end ofthe field, since the valve handle may be returned to neutral position atany time and the plow locked hydraulically in its raised position. v Itwill be observed that with both hydraulic units of the type shown in theHarold Brown patent mentioned above, namely, a double acting unit whichcan be moved in either direction under power and locked hydraulically inany intermediate position and a separate hydraulic circuit including apair of pump gears and a control valve for each unit, almost any type ofadjustment may be effected, and such adjustment may be retained againstforces tending to move the associated parts out of adjustment.Similarly, if it should be desired to effect a move ment of some partwhich requires more power two operating arms 61 and II may be connectedclosed in the above mentioned, prior patent. 7

together to act as one part, in which twice the power normally availablemay be utilized. Disposingthe twocylinders on opposite sides of theconventional tractor operating parts, of which the gear shift lever 28is representative, provides an enclosed arrangement, out of the way ofthe operator, in which the major portion of the operating parts areprotected from dirt, grit and the like, yet the control of such units isconveniently accessible to the operator at. station S on the tractor.

While I have shown and describedv above the preferred form of myinvention, it is to beunderstood that my invention is not to be lim- 2.The combination with a tractor having a motor, an agricultural-groundworking tool movably connected with the tractor and adapted to be movedto various working positions and to be raised and lowered, a pair ofhydraulic units.

means connecting one hydraulic unit. with said.

tool for controlling the operating depth thereof, means connecting theother hydraulic unit with said tool to raise the latter into inoperativeposition and motor driven means for supplying fluid under pressure tosaid hydraulic units to actuate the latter.

3. In an agricultural implement, the combination of a tractor having atransmission housing, a pair of rock shafts, each including an armextending into said transmission housing, ground working tool meansconnected with the tractor. means connecting said tool means with saidrock shafts whereby movement of one of said shafts controls theoperating depth of said tool means and movement of the other shaftcontrols the raising and lowering of said tool means,a pair of hydraulicpiston and cylinder units carried adjacent each side of saidtransmission housing, means connecting one of said units with one ofsaid rockshafts whereby said one unit controlsthe operating depth ofsaid tool means, and means connecting the other of said units with theother of said rockshafts whereby said other unit controls the raisingand lowering of saidtool means,

and means for supplying fluid underpressure to said hydraulic units.

4. In an agricultural implement, the combination of a tractor havingmeans for supplying fluid under pressure, tool means operatively con-.nected in draft transmitting relation with said I.

tractor, a pair of separately operable hydraulic units deriving energyfrom said pressure supply means, at least one of said unitsv being adouble acting unit, means connecting said one unit with said tool meansfor adjusting the depth of operation thereof, and means connectingtheother hydraulic unit with said tool means for raising the latter intotransport position.

5. An agricultural machine comprising a tractor having means forsupplying fluid underpres-v sure, tool means connected with the tractor,means for gauging the depth of operation of said tool means, means forlifting said tool means, a first hydraulic unit deriving power from saidfluid under pressure for actuating said gauging means, and a separatehydraulic unit'deriving power from said fluid under pressure foractuating said lifting means.

6. An agricultural machine comprising a tractor having means forsupplying fluid under pressure, tool means movably connected with thetractor, gauge means normally movable with said tool means for gaugingthe operation thereof, a first hydraulic unit mounted on the tractor andderiving power from said fluid under pressure for shifting the positionof said gauge means relative to said'tool means, and a second hydraulicunit on the tractor also deriving power from said fluid under pressureand connected with said tool means for raising the latter intoinoperative position.

7. In an agricultural machine, a tractor including a platform and a seatconnected therewith, and a pairof hydraulic units including cylindermembers disposed on opposite sides of said seat and extending at theirrear ends adja-- cent said seat below said platform so as to providesubstantially clear foot space on the platform above the rear ends ofsaid cylinder members.

8. In an agricultural machine, a tractor having a governor housing and aplatform, a pair of hydraulic units including cylinder members extendingat their'rear ends below said platform, and means connecting the forwardends of said cylinder members with said governor housing.

9. The combination with a tractor having means for supplying fluid underpressure and a rear axle construction including a rear axle housing anda driving member therein, of a pair of rock shafts supported on saidrear axle housing, a pair of cylinder units disposed in said rear axlehousing on opposite sides of said driving member, controllable.conections between said cylinder units and said fluid pressure supplymeans, and connections between said cylinder units and said rock shafts.

10. The combination with a tractor having a motor, of means forsupplying fluid under pressure operatively connected with said motor, anagricultural implement connected with the tractor and having twoadjustments, one constituting a depth adjustment and the other anoperating and lowering adjustment, a pair of hydraulic units derivingpower from said supply means, means connecting one hydraulic unit withsaid implement for effecting an operating adjustment, and meansconnecting the hydraulic unit with said implement for effecting araising and lowering adjustment.

11. In an agricultural implement comprising a mobile frame and a groundworking tool supported thereon by means providing for shifting movementrelative thereto, the combination of gauge means mounted on said tool bymeans providing for shifting movement relative thereto, a flrst pistonand cylinder unit connected to shift said gauge means relative to saidtool, a second piston and cylinder unit connected to shift both saidtool and said gauge means relative to said frame, and means forsupplying fluid under pressure to each of said units, selectively.

12. In an agricultural implement comprising a 'mobile frame and a groundworking tool supported thereon by means providing for shifting movementrelative thereto, the combination of gauge means mounted on said frameby means providing forshifting movement relative to said frame and tosaid tool, a 'first piston and cylinder unit connected to shift saidgauge means relative to said frame and to said tool, a second piston andcylinder unit connected to shift both said gauge means and said toolrelative to said frame, and means for supplying fluid under pressure toeach of said units, selectively.

18. In an agricultural implement comprising a mobile frame and a groundworking tool supported thereon by means providing for vertical movementrelative thereto, the combination of gauge means mounted on said tool bymeans providing for vertical movement relative thereto, a first pistonand cylinder unit mounted on said frame, means connecting said unit withsaid gauge means to raise and lower the latter relative to said tool, asecond piston and cylinder unit mounted on said frame, means connectingsaid second unit with said tool to raise and lower both said tool andsaid gauge means relative to said frame, and means on said frame forsupplying fluid under pressure to each of said units, selectively.

14. In an agricultural implement comprising a mobile frame and a groundworking tool supported thereon by means providing for vertical movementrelative thereto, the combination of gauge means mounted on said frameby means providing for vertical movement relative to said frame and tosaid tool, a first piston and cylinder unit mounted on said frame, meansconnecting said unit with said gauge means to raise and lower the latterrelative to said tool and to said frame, a second piston and cylindermeans mounted on said frame, means connecting said second unit with saidtool to raise and lower both said tool and said gauge means relative tosaid frame, and means on said frame for supplying fluid under pressureto each of said units, selectively, said connecting means being adaptedto transmit movement to said tool and gauge means from said second unitwithout appreciable relative movement between said gauge means and saidtool.

15. In an agricultural implement comprising a mobile frame and a groundworking tool having a supporting beam swingably mounted thereon forvertical movement relative thereto, the combination of a gauge armswingably mounted on said frame for vertical movement relative thereto,ground contacting gauge means on said arm, a pair of hydraulic powerunits mounted on said frame, means for supplying fluid under pressure toeach of said units, selectively, means for connecting one of said unitswith said beam for raising and lowering the latter, adjustable meansconnecting said gauge arm with said tool, and connections between saidadjustable connecting means and the other of said hydraulic power unitsfor adjusting said connecting means to swing said gauge arm relative tosaid tool beam.

16. In an agricultural implement comprising a mobile frame and a groundworking tool having a supportingbeam swingably mounted thereon forvertical movement relative ,thereto, the combination of a gauge armswingably mounted on said frame for vertical movement relative thereto,ground contacting gauge means on said arm,

a pair of hydraulic power units mounted on said frame, means forsupplying fluid under pressure to each of said units, selectively, meansfor connecting one of said units with said beam for raising and loweringsaid beam and said arm, adjustable means connecting said gauge arm withsaid tool, and means connecting said adjustable means and the other ofsaid hydraulic power units and passing substantially through the axis ofmovement of said gauge arm, for adjustin said connecting means to adjustthe position of said gauge arm relative to said beam, said relativeposition being substantially unaffected by movement of said beam and armunder control of said one hydraulic unit.

17. In an agricultural implement comprising a mobile frame and a groundworking tool having a supporting beam swingably mounted thereon forvertical movement relative thereto, the combination of a gauge armswingably mounted on said frame for vertical movement relative thereto,ground contacting gauge means on said arm, a pair of hydraulic powerunits mounted on said frame, means for supplying fluid under pressure toeach of said units, selectively, means for con- .for vertical movementrelative thereto, the combination of a gauge arm swingably mounted onsaid frame for vertical movement relative thereto, ground contactinggauge means on said arm, a pair of hydraulic power units mounted on saidframe, means for supplying fluid under pressure to each of said units,selectively, means for con- I necting one of said units with said beamfor raising and lowering said beam and said arm, said connecting meansincluding a lost motion connection providing for vertical movement ofsaid tool beam independent of said hydraulic unit, a pair of pivotallyconnected toggle links connecting said gauge arm with said tool beam,and linkage means connecting the point of pivotal connection between thetoggle links with the other of said hydraulic units for adjusting thetoggle links to swing said gauge arm relative to said tool beam, saidlinkage means including a pivot connection substantially on the axis ofmovement of said gauge arm, thereby permitting vertical movement of saidarm and beam substantially without affecting the position of said armrelative to said beam.

THEOPHILUS BROWN.

